Leben

Well, the last couple weeks have been kind of tough.  As you would expect when you lose your best canine friend and constant companion of the last 14 years.  

As you can see from the title, I am still studying German.  ("Leben" means "life.")  And as you can see from my Instagram, life is going on.  Andy and I planted hydrangea, lavender, and dianthus under the apple tree where we buried Lucy.  We've been trying to keep busy: working, enjoying our favorite Michigan summer produce (asparagus and strawberries), going to the movies (Frances Ha was really great), reading, planning our trip to Europe later this year...

Life goes on, though it's not the same at all.

xo

k

lucy

Our little Lu died this morning.  I hate making such a sad post here, but Lucy was such a part of our (mine and Andy's) lives, and I mention her in my blog bio, my shop bio, she's all over my Instagram feed...I figured I might as well let those of you who probably never met her, but certainly knew of her, know about her passing.

She died very peacefully and quickly, here at home, for which I am so grateful.  It wasn't a total surprise.  She was (we think) about 15 years old, and had started having seizures in December.  However, she was in mostly very good health over the last several months, enjoying her kibble and snuggling up with The Boy (what we imagined she would call Andy if she could speak human words) for afternoon naps right up until the end.  

If there is an afterlife, I hope the other dogs there understand Lucy's standoffish-ness.  She never was very sociable with other dogs.  However, there had better be plenty of cats, as Lucy found cats utterly fascinating.  (She was a very independent minded little dog, not a needy "pet me" type.  That and her love of napping in the sun had me convinced she thought she was a cat.)  I also hope that the afterlife is full of an unending supply of dog and human treats--Lucy loved to eat absolutely everything, but most especially the scraps of whatever The Boy was cooking us for dinner that night.

She was simply the very best dog ever.  I'll love you always little Lu, and I don't think I'll ever stop missing you.

xo

k

snow

Just some photographic proof that we did get a massive amount of snow this year.

We still have snow, but not this much.

I love it.  It makes everything feel cozy.

I need a haircut crazy badly.

xo

K

a walk in the woods

We celebrate Lucy's birthday on Cinco de Mayo every year, not for any particular reason--it's just the date we picked. So we decided to treat her to her two favorite things: a nice long walk in the woods, and a trip to Chow Hound to buy treats and sniff the captive bunnies. (By the way, the title of this post is also the title of a wonderful book by Bill Bryson, which you should read if you haven't already.)

The woods were blooming with beautiful trillium.

Another good reason for a walk in the woods? Ramps! These will be made into something delicious.

A young deer watched our progress along the trail from a ridge. The zoom on my digital camera is useless, so this is the best photo I could get. Can you spot him?

Here he is.

This is what I wore--unintentionally, the colors of the Mexican flag. Well, the skirt is more coral pink than red, but still. You can't really see it, but my blouse is a vintage middy-style, with little blue raindrops on it.

xo

K

happy things

2011 started out delightfully, with our grand (if short) trip to New York for my friend Scooter's 40th birthday. But I returned home to a couple unpleasant surprises. Nothing major (just to put it in perspective, the worst news for me was the word that my favorite bartender had quit to go write his novel), but enough to give me a slight case of mean reds.

So I decided to think about--and post here--some of the many things that are currently sending me to my happy place. Like, for example, the giant icicles attached to the eaves of the house.

I'm also loving that I'm finally using this vintage record cabinet as a record cabinet. As opposed to storage for several VHS tapes, a large nest of cable wire, and (I kid you not), five different remote controls we are no longer using. (Oh, by the way--that little torso sitting on top? Andy is convinced it is a salesman's sample mannequin. Any other ideas? It's a freaky little thing.)

It pleased me that--to my surprise--nearly my entire vinyl collection fit inside the cabinet.

I think I might have posted his picture before, but this little lemon yellow ceramic boychick, purchased from Grand Rapids' Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, makes me happy.

Speaking of the UICA, they also helped banish my blues by showing the two Mesrine films. France + gangsters + 1960s setting + Vincent Cassel = total awesomeness.

Fee Brothers Orange Bitters. I'm using these (and the Fee classic bitters) in everything--club soda, prosecco, Manhattans. Next I want to try them in a Rob Roy, though the only scotch I have is Laphroaig. Scotch purists would have me hung for mixing Laphroaig with anything at all, but, well, I'm not a purist.

These triangle-perforated taupe oxfords. My size--yes! But they haven't been worn yet, due to freezing temps, snow, and ice. I just gaze at them and wait longingly for slightly warmer, drier weather.

This feller's radio show makes my Monday-Thursday afternoons very happy indeed. Seriously, I don't know how I lived before without Gideon Coe's show.

And Miss Lucy, of course.

xo

K

summer's last gasp

Summer came back with a vengeance yesterday: 85 degree temps and lots of humidity. But it allowed me to wear this new find that otherwise would have hidden in my closet until next year, a Swirl-style wrap dress with a pretty vineyard-like print in greens and plums.

It was the perfect, comfortable dress to wear on the buying trip we took yesterday to Kalamazoo and points south. The shopping was pretty good (I found a wonderful silk 1960s Tina Leser dress!), and we got to visit the Bell's brewery for lunch and pints, always a treat.

Speaking of treats, here's Lucy proving she is not to old to do a circus dog dance for one.

I loved these old school chicken swings spotted at an apparently deserted (nap time?) preschool.

We ended the evening with cocktails (racquet clubs and Moscow Mules!) and snacks at the Viceroy with a lovely friend who brought me perfume samples! Does it get any better?

xo

K

haircut 100

(I couldn't think of a title for this post, which is kind of about hair, so I just used Andy's favorite band's name.)

This dress is an example of something I probably would not have kept when I had longer hair. Thought I love the blue and green plaid print and the little bow at the neck, that drop waist isn't the most flattering on me. (Nor is my purse strap which is doing a weird thing at the bust, but that's not the fault of the dress.) But when I tried this dress on after I had my hair chopped off, it worked for me.

These photos were taken last Wednesday evening, when we headed down to our second home, the Viceroy, to enjoy some delicious cocktails made by guest bartenders from Chicago's Sable. Highlights were a Peychaud's Bitters-based drink and getting to taste some bonded whiskey.

Lucy did not get to come inside, but she did dress up.

I cannot go downtown without snapping photos of any signs of the city's past. I love the way the light is falling across the building in these photos.

xo

K

the livin' is easy

Those of you who follow my Twitterings may remember me posting about a dress I meant to sell, but decided to keep. I'd promised I would never do such a naughty thing again, but...I broke the promise. The dress is this green piqué Malia dress. I just could not resist the crazy-cute bird print.

Stephani visited us from Detroit this weekend (she helped convince me to keep the dress). This photo was taken in front of the future site of a Belgian style brewery (in a building that was once a funeral home). I'm excited for this place to open not so much because I like Belgian beer (because I don't, really), but because it's such a cool building--it looks like it should house a Belgian brewery. And I'm hoping they'll also have frites.

Since the brewery isn't open yet, we had drinks at Corez (one of the few places in town that knows how to make a decent cocktail). I had a Negroni, Andy a beer, and Steph a French 75. And we all shared these ridiculously good fries with aioli and a fried egg on top!

Speaking of neat old buildings--this one is a refurbished former orphanage, across the street from Corez.

We shared more food at the Winchester and probably too many drinks at the Viceroy before heading home to crash for most of Sunday. But by Sunday afternoon we were all ready--especially Lucy--to head out onto the lake and enjoy a little sunshine. Nothing better for a wee hangover than fresh air and sunshine. And a big hat and sunglasses.

xo

K

p.s.--As of this posting, the Etsy shop is at 999 sales. I am giving free US shipping/discounted international shipping to the 1000th purchase!

macro thrift trip

Some shots from last Saturday's thrift trip, which was filled with early spring produce from the farmers market, a fantastic lunch of celery soup and goat cheese tart, and some great thrifting finds.

Here I am, in a 1940s print crepe blouse, ever-present mustard J. Crew cardigan (seriously, I wear it all the time), jeans, and 1950s lady cop oxfords.

Close-up of the print on the blouse, which buttons up the back with the cutest clear blue plastic buttons with flowers on them.

The most ridiculous print I have ever seen on a western shirt.

Gratuitous dog shot. Well, not entirely gratuitous. We celebrate Lucy's birthday every Cinco de Mayo, so please join us in wishing her happy birthday. She's about 77 in dog years, but can still run circles around me. When she's not napping. We celebrated with a trip to the pet supply store where she was allowed to sniff the various rawhide items to her heart's content, and where I learned of the existence of cherry-flavored pigs' ears. Like plain pigs' ears aren't disgusting enough. There will be a nice walk in the woods once the weather improves, and special treats. No pigs' ears--just chicken jerky.

xo

K